This was actually not a bad movie. Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant) is a former 80s singer who has long since become a has-been, without a hit for decades. Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore) lives in the shadow of Sally Michaels, a fictionalized version of herself, created by her college professor, Sloan Cates (Campbell Scott). Both Sally and Sophie slept with the above mentioned college professor and still, years later, he still has this power over her. One of my main problems with the film is that she never tells him off. Sure his movie is a huge flop but Sophie never gets justice, which she undoubtedly deserved.
Sophie is hired by Alex to help him write lyrics for the most famous pop star on the planet, Cora Corman (Haley Bennett) but Cora takes the good song and adds her own touch, ruining the song and when Alex does not stand up for his music, the relationship is over but of course, they get back together and Alex manages to convince Cora to go back to the original song just so he can get her back.
Sure, the plot is fairly basic, but the acting is actually decent and I don't like Hugh Grant but even he was pretty good. Barrymore is also delightful and there are fine supporting performances from Brad Garrett as Chris, Alex's managers and Kristen Johnston as Sophie's older sister who has taken over the family's weight loss business and was the biggest fan of PoP (the band Alex was a part of). Also, look for Friday Night Light's Scott Porter as the other member of PoP.
Though this was a simple rom-com, and it was funny, I didn't have many problems with it that aren't my usual problems with a rom-com. You know who is destined to be together from the beginning but at least this journey was slightly different from normal, though the male character knows he made a mistake and will do anything to correct it to win the girl back. I just wish that Barrymore would have stuck up for herself instead of having Grant fight her battle. Still, not a bad movie for New Year's Eve. Grade: B
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